Serena Williams, the 44-year-old 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, will return to professional tennis for the first time since the 2022 US Open. She will team up with Canadian Victoria Mboko in the women's doubles event at the Queen's Club Championships in London from June 8 to 14, 2026, a WTA 500 tournament [1, 2, 3].
Williams and Mboko received a wildcard entry into the doubles draw. Mboko, 19, ranked ninth in singles, has called Williams her "idol." She announced the news on Instagram, saying, "The Queen is back. An honor to share the court with one of the greatest athletes of all time this week. Even more excited to play doubles together! Tennis is pretty special" [1, 2, 3].
Williams, who has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Venus and remains undefeated in major doubles finals, had previously stated she was "evolving away from tennis" before confirming her return [1, 2, 3]. She re-entered the anti-doping testing pool last year, fueling speculation about a comeback [1, 2, 3].
Mboko’s partnership with Williams marks a significant opportunity for the young Canadian, who will compete alongside a tennis legend at a prestigious grass-court event leading up to Wimbledon [1, 2, 3].
The Queen’s Club Championships run from June 8 to 14, and fans and players alike will watch closely as Williams makes her competitive comeback in doubles for the first time since 2022 [1, 2, 3].
